Part 25

Harper's thoughts were consumed by the kiss he was sharing with Dani, remembering what he had, and had lost, for so long Dani had been all he had thought about and desired, with her in his arms his life would be complete and everything would be right with the world.

Like a tidal wave, Harper became swept up in a sudden sensation of doubts, this wasn't perfect and he couldn't remember his life when he had had those consuming thoughts, something was very wrong and now it seemed as if he was seeing clearly. Suddenly Harper moved away from Dani as if sensing a threat, breaking the kiss looking on unsure.

"What was that?" Harper asked; his voice cold and emotionless.

"You don't know?" Dani teased, and her voice cut him like a knife as he fought the inner battle with his feelings, she still sounded like the woman he claimed to love.

Looking away, Harper appeared angry for a moment. "Yesterday you didn't want to know me, and now suddenly you're freaking kissing me?" he stressed, his voice giving away his confusion more than he had wanted.

"I thought you wanted this, I thought we had this once?" Dani now sounded unsure, her voice softer.

"What game are you playing, Dani?" Harper asked, unable to look to his left where Dani sat close to him, instead he kept his eyes firmly closed facing to his right. When she didn't answer, Harper continued, holding back his emotions as he spoke through gritted teeth. "I'm forgetting important things, I know it, my gut is telling me this, we're being held hostage and you think now is a good time to do this?" Harper demanded. "With you, everything was supposed to be perfect, this isn't perfect!" he finally stated losing some of his control.

Dani was silent now, and Harper tried to use what senses he had to determine what she was thinking. He knew one thing, he had upset her and he realised that maybe he had let the situation get to him. With some care, he slowly opened his eyes and squinted against the light that was in the cell, to look at the blurred image of Dani beside him.

"Dani, I'm sorry, ok?" Harper offered in almost a whisper. "It's just I don't know what is real anymore, is any of this real? I'm having a hard time making sense of all of this, and I just know that something isn't right."

"You think that I'm fake?"

"No," Harper immediately answered. "Maybe, I don't know," he stressed to show his confused state of mind, wishing that his hands weren't secured behind his back, wanting to desperately hide behind them. "But seeing as you're a prisoner too, I guess you're in this mess as well."

"I've had to live with confusion all my life, with not remembering things that I think are important, Seamus," Dani reminded him. "Nothing you are telling me sounds any different to my everyday life," she emphasised.

Harper sighed. "Do you know what it feels like to think you're losing your mind?"

"Seamus, you are not losing your mind," Dani insisted.

"I say one thing with such conviction but it doesn't feel like it's the right thing, it feels wrong," Harper attempted to explain.

"You're just under a lot of stress, Seamus, what with your eyes, the fits and this whole crazy situation," Dani assured him. "I won't leave your side, I promise, we'll get through this, and Yussuf will defeat these goons."

"What if he doesn't?" Harper idly asked.

"Then we better get use to each others company because we could be in this cell for a long time," Dani sighed.


Beka drew her gun, arming it she aimed it at the guy stood before her. Dylan remained unmoving by her side, but when the guy didn't react, he smiled and had to comment.

"Usually, when she draws the gun it's time to do as she says," Dylan helpfully pointed out. "So tell Colin that whatever he is busy with, it can be done later."

The guy glared at Dylan, before backing away and returning through the door into the building where Colin was seemingly trying to avoid them. Dylan and Beka both watched as the door closed.

"Shall we?" Beka asked, with her gun still armed.

"Ladies first," Dylan gestured, and Beka only smiled before stopping the door closing completely and they both disappeared into the building.

The guy Beka had threatened walked only a short distance ahead and in no time Beka had caught him up.

"Change of plan, escort us to Colin and you won't die," Beka hissed, keeping her gun out of sight but pressed into the guy's lower back, as Dylan shielded her actions walking close by.

"Don't you think we have enough problems without this as well?" the guy demanded, seemingly losing patience.

"Your problems became my problem the moment you took my innocent friend hostage!" Beka stressed with anger, pressing the gun deeper into the guys back.

"You really have no idea do you?" The guy spoke without fear. "Let me guess you're friends of Seamus Harper, right?"

Beka grabbed the guys shoulder and spun him around, pushing him roughly into the wall. "What do you know?"

"I know that this whole mess started because of your friend!" the guy yelled back.

"What do you mean?" Dylan now asked.

Beka was trying hard to hold back her anger, as she spoke. "He did nothing wrong, he did not purposely save Yussuf's life, he can just do really stupid things sometimes and he shouldn't be condemned because of that, he doesn't deserve this crap!" Beka protested with anger as she pushed the guy unto the wall some more.

"Beka Valentine."

Beka held the guy firmly against the wall emphasising her gun, before slowly turning to face the new voice.

"Colin, it's about time," Beka sneered, back handing the guy she was pinning to the wall with her gun and he slumped to the ground. "Now tell me what the hell is going on and how I can take Harper out of it."

"I wish I could," Colin simply answered.

"At least try," Dylan stated before Beka could respond.

"Follow me, we can talk in a more private place than the corridor," Colin gestured.

Beka glanced at Dylan, and then followed the captain as he followed Colin to a side room. Cautiously she checked the room before easing her gun down, but remained alert as Colin found himself a seat and then gestured to them to take the two other seats in the room.

"I've missed you, Beka, it was a real wrench to leave the Andromeda after my time there," Colin began.

"Cut to the chase, why is Harper your prisoner?" Beka demanded.

"He's not our prisoner," Colin started but was soon cut off.

"Don't mess us around, Colin, we've seen the broadcasts, we know the Resistors are behind the siege at the palace and you are a part of the Resistors," Beka stressed angrily.

"You're half right," Colin offered.

"Which half?" Dylan interjected.

"The half about me being a part of the Resistors," Colin answered.

Beka got to her feet with frustration. "The Resistors have claimed the siege of the Palace, Colin; it's all over their broadcasts! Don't try to deny it."

Colin took a moment, carefully watching Beka before responding. "My time on the Andromeda was well spent, Beka, I saw how you guys worked for each other, I saw how important you were to one another, I know you are all good people working for a better universe, just like the one I want," Colin proclaimed, before standing up and approaching Beka. "When I returned, and the Resistors were formed I was a huge part of their conception, and we pulled together with one common goal, to cut down Yussuf's dominance in this sector."

"This is all very interesting, but it's not answering my question," Beka stated, her hand firmly gripping her weapon. "My friend is your hostage."

"The Resistors grew strong in number, over a short period of time and we all came from different areas, all affected differently by Yussuf's regime," Colin continued to explain with consideration. "When I saw that Seamus Harper was a target, I couldn't idly sit back and accept that."

Beka was about to comment when she stopped herself, hearing his words. "What?" she managed, trying to hide being caught out. "So what happened?" she quickly asked.

"I convinced those that trusted me that Harper was a good guy in a difficult situation, to explain his actions," Colin explained. "My most used phrase for the past few weeks has been 'one second of instinctive reaction does not make a man accountable for a whole sectors misery."

Dylan stood up and stepped closer to Colin. "So you know Harper is an innocent man caught up in this mess?"

"My insistence in his innocence has created this mess, Captain Hunt," Colin admitted. "The Resistors are split, those who believe Harper should not be punished, and those who feel his actions deserve punishment."

"Let me guess, those Resistors currently holding siege in the palace, are the ones who raised their hands to the 'let's get him' faction?" Beka frowned, and replaced her gun into its holster.

"They call themselves Resistors, but they do not represent us all," Colin frowned now, as he walked around the desk. "We've been trying to work out what to do next, before it's too late."

"What do you mean before it's too late?" Beka asked.

"The new Resistors plan to cash the bounty on Harper's head in," Colin answered. "I doubt they'll be strapped for money, now they are the sectors saviours in taking over Yussuf's palace and humiliating the Nietzschean leader, people will be throwing money at them with thanks," Colin continued. "So I can only imagine they are doing this to further punish your friend," he finished looking at Beka.

"Do you know who put the bounty on Harper's head?" Dylan asked.

"Rico and his sister," Colin stated. "They blame Harper for their elder brother being on Yussuf's death row."

"Surely now the new Resistors have taken over the palace, Rico's brother is no longer in danger though, what use would Harper be to them now?" Beka asked, with confusion.

"For the past two weeks the Resistors have been arguing and fighting over what to do with Harper, your question was my argument, but I still believe they think that Rico will want Harper, and our plans now are to at least stop that happening," Colin smiled. "When I got your call, I was more than happy to help."

"So why didn't you want to see us when we first arrived?" Dylan asked.

Colin looked beyond them, out to the corridor. "We are discovering new Resistors every day amongst our rank, it makes our life difficult," he suggested. "I'm sorry but the first I knew of you being here was when I found you beating on the guy in the corridor."

"I will happily offer the services of the Andromeda in your plans to get Harper out of this mess," Dylan then offered.

"That would be greatly appreciated," Colin smiled. "Come with me, and let me introduce you to some of my team."

"How many men do you have loyal to your way of thinking?" Dylan asked as they began to move from the room.

"Roughly two hundred, but immediately in this vicinity about fifty," Colin answered.

"More than enough to make our presence felt," Beka remarked.

"I agree," Dylan nodded his head, as they walked down the corridor.

"Captain Hunt," Colin began. "I will happily assigned command to you for this mission, it would be an honour to observe leadership from you, I'm still rusty after my years of imprisonment," Colin requested.

"Transfer all men willing to assist us to the Andromeda, we'll give them basic training to ensure we're ready and we'll plan our best move," Dylan stated with authority.

"How long do you think we have before the new Resistors attempt to hand Harper over?" Beka asked.

"Anytime in the next twelve hours, I have men posted to Rico's position, they will inform us when the call is made, so far no formal claim on the bounty has been made to our knowledge," Colin stated.

"Good, then this will be a quick induction to the Andromeda for your men, you think they are ready?" Dylan asked.

"As ready as they'll ever be," Colin shrugged.

"We're already two people down," Dylan stated, thinking of Harper and Rommie. "So any extra help will be an advantage."

"You can see for yourself in a moment, we're heading for the weapons training room," Colin gestured up ahead, and the feint sound of gunfire could now be heard, as Beka and Dylan continued walking with Colin to meet the troops.


They sat in silence, and the cell offered little by way of distraction. The temperature had gradually reduced, and they both suspected purposely as the cold air began to bite.

"I would die for a plate of food right now," Harper remarked tiredly.

"Give me a feast and I'll be the happiest girl alive," Dani spoke up in tired agreement.

"How long have we been here?"

"Hours, I don't know though, it's hard to judge," Dani responded.

Harper shifted slightly. "My hands hurt, wish they'd take these damn ropes off, what good does it do keeping us tied up?"

"Let me see," Dani asked, and saw Harper's colourless hands. "Can you still feel them?"

"Not exactly, had pins and needles in them for the longest time, but now it's more numb."

"The ropes are too tight," Dani stressed. "You should have said earlier, shift around so we're back to back, I'll try to loosen the ropes a little."

Harper did as Dani asked, and soon felt her hands against his wrists, trying to find some give in the ropes.

Grimacing, Harper tried not to think of the burning stinging sensation the ropes moving did to his sore skin.

"Ah," Harper offered and took a deep breath as his felt a sudden rush of blood returning to his hands, it was painful for a moment before his left hand began to ache.

"Are you ok?"

"Yeah, just my left hand giving me a little reminder that it's not what it was," Harper offered between pained breaths.

"Was it injured?" Dani asked with concern.

"Old injury," Harper responded, recovering now. "When I saved Yussuf's life my hand got badly cut up, couldn't use it for," Harper stopped mid-sentence and experienced another loss of memory, he couldn't remember when he regained the use of his hand, but remembered injuring it.

"Seamus," Dani spoke calmly, her hands gently rubbed his hands as they remained back to back. "Don't fight the memories, I'm always told it doesn't help."

"Do you always believe what you are told?" Harper asked.

"I have to," Dani spoke with sadness.

They were interrupted by the cell door suddenly opening, and Dani looked up to see a Resistor enter and without pause he headed towards Harper.

"Where are you taking him!" Dani yelled out, partly to give Harper some warning before the Resistor hauled him roughly to his feet.

"I'll see you soon, Dani," Harper wryly smiled when the Resistor failed to answer, and Harper was soon dragged from the cell with little ceremony.

TBC